Kalamazoo College Athletics

Hamlin has spent the past five months preparing with the team as the first full-time coach in program history. The extra time allotted to Hamlin to work with and for the team has already been reaping benefits. Fourth-year player Emma Patrash has been noticing the differences that Hamlin and the full-time coaching have brought to the team.

 

"I'm really excited to have somebody who has the time to devote all of her efforts to making us better," Patrash said. "Because before, while they were doing a great job, and trying their best, it wasn't enough because if you can't fully commit yourself to looking at game plans and the way people are playing we're not going to be able to be competitive in this league. So I think this is going to up our competitive abilities."

 

Hamlin came to Kalamazoo after coaching at NCAA Division I Jacksonville University as a graduate assistant for the past two seasons. She's armed with a master's in sports psychology and two new assistant coaches, both of whom played softball at Western Michigan and graduated in 2012. Hamlin believes her assistant coaches Tara Buchanan and Meredith Whitney bring a lot to the table mentally and physically as they've both been through what her players are dealing with right now.

Returning Statistical Leaders OFFENSE Batting Average .325 Erin DuRoss .261 Abby Anderson .258 Querubin Dubois RBIs 11 Maddy Sinkovich PITCHING ERA 3.30 Victoria Najacht 3.99 Erin DuRoss Strikeouts 53 Erin DuRoss 22 Victoria Najacht

"They've been there at the highest levels and gone through what it takes to be a top softball player," Hamlin said. "So they can easily relate to the girls, and help them through any challenging times. Especially when they're swamped with schoolwork and work and all kinds of stuff they're able to help them through, because they've been there."

There is no lack of experience on this year's club. Hamlin was lucky enough to inherit a team boasting a roster with ten upperclassmen. It's made her transition much easier.

"The leadership in our upperclassmen is phenomenal," Hamlin said. "They show exactly what I want and work their butts off. I see the improvement every day. The main thing with them is that they've come a long way and they have that fire to teach the freshmen and the sophomores that this is what we want and we can take it this year."

 

Emma Patrash, who has seen this program through its highs and lows has that fire, and thinks it's definitely blazing down throughout the roster.

"I think the older players, we've seen a lot with this program and we're really devoted to keeping it strong," Patrash said. "We're trying to help the freshmen understand hard work and the aspects of practice."

Patrash also added that she and the rest of the upperclassmen want to pave the way for their younger teammates to have successful careers during their time at Kalamazoo. She doesn't think it will be too difficult as she believes this current group of underclassmen is really good, and already playing like veterans.

This Hornet team more than tripled its wins from the 2012 season last year with nine. They're taking the bases this year with a ton of confidence stemming from an experienced and hungry roster and new coaches who are anxious to put their knowledge and philosophies to the test. Once the snow melts and the warm-up jackets come off the Hornets are hoping to gel on the diamond smoother than their first 6-4-3 double play.